Most accurate .45 autoloader

What do you think is the most accurate .45 made? I am talking production guns here not super high dollar custom jobs. Lets say under $800. That is still a pretty expensive gun in my opinion, but we should have a ceiling on price for this hypothetical question...

Glad you capped the price on this autoloader. The most accurate 45 I've shot was waaaay over the $800 price tag. In the prescribed limit, I would say the most accurate I've shot has been my HK USP 45...surprise surprise :neener: It consistently makes me look good when I shoot it & is relatively easy to do so. I got mine for $600 brand new last year ;)

WonderNine

January 10, 2003, 01:17 AM

I have limited experience with autoloaders, but it seems that none that I've shot will shoot point on site as revolvers do. They all seem to shoot low.

Shane

January 10, 2003, 01:36 AM

In that price range, I've found the CZ 97B to be the most accurate. The Sig Sauer P220 comes in second. YRMV

Bob Locke

January 10, 2003, 03:54 AM

I have always gotten better results from my Glock 21 than I (or people I've shot with) thought I would, but I don't think it's the most accurate.

Sig P220 has got to be at or near the top.

Not sure what $800 will get you in the 1911 department, but I've shot a couple of Colt Gold Cups that I wouldn't have paid half that for based on their performance. Conversely, I've shot a couple of Charles Daly 1911's that really shocked me, and they retailed for right at $300.

Don't have a lot of trigger time on the HK's, but what I have done/seen is above average (though not really any better than I can do with my G21).

Guess it's mostly a function of you and what you're comfortable with.

Kahr carrier

January 10, 2003, 09:08 AM

Ditto Sig 220,But my Glock 21 is pretty accurate too.:)

Sean Smith

January 10, 2003, 09:14 AM

At that price point, probably a Kimber Classic Target or a SigSauer P220. There is alot of gun-to-gun variation in production pieces, so it is hard to say... some new stock Colt 01991 guns are shooting into under 2" at 25 yards with factory ammo. :eek:

shepsan

January 10, 2003, 10:55 AM

I second what Shane said. The CZ97B is a great pistol. It is well-made and has a precision fit with a visually beautiful finish.

If you have hands large enough to control its size and weight, it is as accurate as most limited production guns that cost multiple times more.

HK P9S. It's difficult to outclass a fixed barrel pistol. I would also wonder about the performance of the prototype .45 Lugers from the 1911 trials. Their accuracy really impressed the Army, and all Lugers are very accurate.

Master Blaster

January 10, 2003, 11:33 AM

A good 1911, a base kimber or springfield

American Rifleman tested springfield armory pistols in the Novermber 2001 edition, the Mil-Spec at $500 shot 10 shot 25yard groups of 1.8" from a ransom rest, this was with 2 different commercial loads. It did just as well as the Trophy match pistol that costs almost 3 times as much.

With a little tweeking by a smith and some load development (if you reload) it could probably do under 2" at 50 yards. Thats as good as any production gun out there. They also tested an Ed Brown Kobra ($2000) with the same loads in another issue this year and it shot around 2-3" at 25 yards.

My mil spec purchased this year is just as good as the one they tested.

teppo-shu

January 10, 2003, 02:07 PM

I vote CZ97B!

Mine is evidently even more accurate than shepsan's.;)

9mmepiphany

January 10, 2003, 05:16 PM

i'd have to go with the fixed barrel of the H&K P9S too...i know that it outshot my Sig 220, which has no trouble trounching my co-workers' glocks

Handy

January 10, 2003, 05:37 PM

Just to put the nails in the coffin, the typical P9S will shoot an inch group at 25 yards from the bench with most ammo.

Am I to understand that some of you have sub-$1000 1911s or CZs that do that?

45auto

January 10, 2003, 06:51 PM

Maximum accuracy for $800.
I would go for a Springfield mil-spec with a match grade bbl installed by reputable gunsmith known for accuracy or bullseye work. Figure $300 for the gunsmithing and $500 for the gun.
Give or take a little on the costs.

i've seen (same shooter, same day, same ammo) a ruger 90 hold better groups, out of the box, then a springfield...but a springfield will tune up better

rick458

January 10, 2003, 07:17 PM

My Kimber Stainless II is extremely accurate, very well fitted, and feeds everything I have tried so far, even empty cases. it was $832.00 after tax.

Shmackey

January 10, 2003, 09:29 PM

My Kimber Series I is the most accurate centerfire pistol I've ever shot, and will give many a .22 target gun a run for its money. I would put it up against any other centerfire gun under $800 and I paid $600 for it.

This doesn't mean that every Kimber will do it -- certainly not every 1911 -- but mine does. Kimber is known for its tight fitting. There are things to complain about with Kimbers (spotty QC, MIM parts if you care, stainless steel under the black oxide), but their frames are superb.

Nightcrawler

January 10, 2003, 10:25 PM

If you have hands large enough to control its size and weight, it is as accurate as most limited production guns that cost multiple times more.

The grip, to me, is NOT that big. It's longer than, say, a Glock 21 or USP45, but the grip is also narrower (hence a flush-fitting, non-castrated mag holding only 10 rounds, instead of 12, 13, or 14).

Actually, it's not any longer than a G21, I don't think. G21's have a pretty long grip, from back to front, and with the finger grooves simply do NOT fit my hand. (You know, I once had a Glock fanatic get MAD at me when I told him this, absolutely insisting that the G21 had the same grip diameter as the single-stack 1911, but once again I digress.)

Still, Pick one up before you buy. The slide stop is in perfect place for me the lefty to hit it with my trigger finger, but none of my righty friends can hit it with their right thumbs. *shrug*

It is, though, very accurate for a gun in it's price range (

Tony Z

January 10, 2003, 10:52 PM

That would have to be a Dan Wesson Patriot 1911 or the pointman Seven. Around $800.00 and worth every penny.:D

Actually, the Taurus PT-145 was the most accurate .45 I ever owned. It shot under 2in groups at 25 yards. It's fatal flaw was the frame. :mad:

HIPOWER

January 11, 2003, 12:52 AM

With all the fine guns already suggested, people might laugh at the thought of the Ruger P90 being suggested against a fine 1911 or even the Glock 21. However, just in my own experience, I have gotten some 15 yard and 25 yard groups from my P90 that were surprising, if not downright scary. It's accurate! The trigger is not the greatest, and some think the Rugers are homely looking at best, but with a little patience you can get some good groups out of them....at least I can with my P90. I would not say that a typical P90 is "the most accurate .45" but I would say that they can hold their own and do a darned good job.

Good luck on your decision.

Rob96

January 11, 2003, 06:45 AM

Most accurate 45 I have/had is my Ruger P-90T. Excellent gun. Best group achieved was .5" offhand, first shot fired double action, at 20 yds, at a nice easy pace. The p-90 will do it's part if you do yours.

Tony Z

January 11, 2003, 11:16 AM

The best bullseye shooting I have done (other then a .22) is with a 1911 clone, but my Ruger P-90 has performed very respectable, I have shot 1" groups offhand at 50 Feet. It is an all around excellent pistol.

Tony Z

http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL122/494127/657531/7465276.jpg

45R

January 11, 2003, 11:39 AM

At that range I would have to say a Kimber Custom Target or a Sig P220.